Oh bother!

Found this on a Google search...

So on a refrigerator what setting is coldest (1 to 5)?

On every fridge the rules for the coldest settings are always the following:
The numbers on the fridge's temperature dial indicate refrigerant power.
The higher the number goes the colder the fridge will maintain.
Setting it to 5 will make your fridge the coldest.

So ignore what I wrote before, sorry ?

Ha! You've all got me wondering now as well.
I'll change it and see what happens...

Sorry - on my fridge it is the temperature.
Please ignore!

I always thought the higher number was the coldest I m sure it is in mine

In my fridge (Bosch) higher numbers do mean colder settings.

Oh my goodness, I always thought the higher the setting, the colder! Fortunately, I’ve not had to adjust mine else I would have done it wrong.
Hope when you try the other way, Minimoon, it works again.

Yes I'd say you've turned the dial the wrong way...
Mine go from 0-5, with 0 being the coldest setting.
We have them set at 1 and the temperature inside is reading 4c which is fine.

OP you’ve gone the wrong way turning your fridge up
Mine stays at 6 and the freezer at -21 , but perhaps the door was left ajar? You could buy a fridge thermometer to check before you shell out for a new fridge

The knob inside the fridge was set to 5. I've turned it right up to 7. It hasn't made any difference. This is a cool house, the kitchen faces east so by mid morning the sun (a rare thing here) has moved round from the window.
Fortunately I did have plenty of vegetables so I made vegetable couscous and we ate yesterday's cold roast chicken with it.
I'm researching new fridges now.

I think you will find most fridges struggle in the heat. Best to buy small amounts of fresh stuff every couple of days and freeze meat products until night before, - say twelve hours to defrost, then pack the grudge with lots of cold water filled bottles if space allows until ready to cook.

Think I would say more than “ oh bother “ , I hate waste
I hope you had something else edible ?

Has your thermostat accidentally been knocked down a notch or 2.